San Diego's top 25 scenic restaurants

These eateries offer tables with a view for Valentine's Day

Picture perfect dining

For many San Diego restaurants diners, the star attraction isn’t always what’s on the plate. It’s what’s outside the windows. Six of the 100 best “Scenic View Restaurants” in America are in San Diego, according to the just-released 2013 survey of OpenTable.com diners. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, U-T restaurant writer Pam Kragen checked out some of the best tables with a view and insider tips on scoring the best seats in the house.

1

Avant

The Rancho Bernardo Inn’s newly revamped restaurant has patio dining, with a pair of tables for two that overlook the 18th hole of the resort’s golf course. Assistant general manager Jason Caroll recommends arriving early to get them. Rancho Bernardo Inn, 17550 Bernardo Oaks Drive, San Diego. (858) 574-5356. ranchobernardoinn.com.

2

Bertrand at Mr. A’s

Perched on the roof of the Fifth Avenue Financial Center in Bankers Hill, this 49-year-old French restaurant’s view ranks No. 4 in the nation with OpenTable diners. Diners at any window or patio table get a panoramic view of downtown San Diego and Coronado and can watch jets soar by at eye level toward Lindbergh Field. 2550 Fifth Ave., Suite 12, San Diego. (619) 239-1377. bertrandatmisteras.com.

3

Brockton Villa

Another favorite with OpenTable diners, this beach cottage-turned-restaurant has commanded the best views of La Jolla Cove since 1894. Owner Megan Heine recommends table 32 on the lower patio for the best view of the ocean. There are also six tables (Nos. 5 through 10) along the railing of the covered veranda, with the best view of the cove. Parking is usually easiest after 4 p.m. 1235 Coast Blvd., La Jolla. (858) 454-7393. brocktonvilla.com.

4

Chandler’s Restaurant and Lounge

This new California coastal cuisine restaurant is across the street from South Carlsbad State Beach. Manager Jessica McGavin recommends tables 146 to 149, the four-seaters that line the glassed-in patio along Coast Highway. The best time to secure a table is a half-hour before sunset. Hilton Carlsbad Oceanfront, 1 Ponto Road. (760) 683-5500. chandlerscarlsbad.com.

5

C Level and Island Prime

On the east end of Harbor Island, these sister restaurants offer excellent views of the downtown skyline and bay. Table 405 is the best location in the downstairs dining room C Level. Upstairs at Island Prime, ask for table 26. 880 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego. (619) 298-6802. cohnrestaurants.com.

K.C. Alfred

6

Cusp Dining and Drinks

The window tables at this new rooftop Mediterranean restaurant are triangular, so diners face the Pacific Ocean rather than each other. It joined the OpenTable top 100 list in 2013. General manager Mark Spears recommends tables 37 and 38, which offer the best views of La Jolla Shores up to Torrey Pines. Hotel La Jolla, 7955 La Jolla Shores Drive. (858) 551-3620. cusprestaurant.com.

7

George’s Ocean Terrace

George’s California Modern in La Jolla is famous for its high-end cuisine, but not its view. Fortunately its adjacent sister eatery, the elevated outdoor Ocean Terrace, offers an unobstructed ocean view of the Pacific from every table, earning it high marks on OpenTable.com. 1250 Prospect St., La Jolla. (858) 454-4244. georgesatthecove.com.

8

Humphreys Restaurant

Table 93, in the center of the dining room next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, offers a colorful view of sailboats bobbing in the Shelter Island Marina. 2241 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego. (619) 224-3577. www.humphreysrestaurant.com.

9

Il Fornaio

Ask for patio seating at this Italian restaurant on Coronado’s northern tip, where diners can enjoy a panoramic view of the downtown skyline from across the bay. 1333 First St., Coronado. (619) 437-4911. ilfornaio.com.

JRDN

At this Pacific Beach boardwalk restaurant, those in the know ask for the “Sunset Table,” located near a fireplace on the patio. Tower23 Hotel, 723 Felspar St., San Diego. (858) 270-5736. t23hotel.com.

12

The Marine Room

Since 1941, this Open-Table favorite at La Jolla Shores has commanded the most authentic seaside view in town. During high tides, waves literally crash against the enormous 3/4-inch thick picture windows in the dining room (in 1982, storm waves actually crashed through, flooding the restaurant). To ensure a good ocean view from every table, the dining room is terraced. 2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla. (858) 459-7222. marineroom.com.

13

Morada Restaurant

Although the dining room at this 90-year-old Rancho Santa Fe resort was recently remodeled, the best seats are outside on the dining terrace with a view of the great lawn and the village — look for hot air balloons dotting the skies. Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, 5951 Linea Del Cielo. (858) 381-8289, theinnatrsf.com.

14

Pacifica Del Mar

The six tables lining the railing of this rooftop restaurant (250, 260 and four corner tables) are always the first to fill each night. “The sunsets from these seats are epic,” said chef/partner Chris Idso, who seats guests at these tables at a 45-degree angle to maximize their ocean view. There are also nice coastal views at the more-casual sister eatery downstairs, Pacifica Breeze Cafe. 1555 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar. (858) 792-0476, pacificadelmar.com.

15

Pacific Coast Grill

Literally on the sand at Cardiff beach, this new two-story restaurant offers comfortable view tables on both of its patios, its indoor dining room and its bar. 2526 S. Coast Highway 101, Cardiff. (760) 479-0721. pacificcoastgrill.com.

16

Peohe's

This island-themed restaurant owned by the Chart House has a lush tropical interior decor, but the real show is outside, where window and patio tables have a stellar view of downtown San Diego and the Coronado Bridge from the Ferry Landing. 1 First St., Coronado. (619) 437-4474, peohes.com.

17

Poseidon on the Beach

This seaside seafood eatery is literally on the sand in Del Mar. Sunset is a terrific time to dine, but the restaurant's award-winning brunch may offer better table availability and parking. 1670 Coast Blvd., Del Mar. (858) 755-9345. poseidonrestaurant.com.

18

Sea 180° Coastal Tavern

Named for its 180-degree view of the Coronado Islands, South Bay and Mexico, this newly opened tavern is on the sand near the Imperial Beach Pier. Table 56 is recommended for the best view of the pier, but many of the seats inside this new restaurant have great views of the water. Come early if you want to witness a stunning sunset. Pier South Hotel, 800 Seacoast Drive, Imperial Beach. (619) 631-4949. sea180.com.

19

Southpaw Social Club

This new neighborhood restaurant/bar in East Village has a large patio overlooking Petco Park’s grassy Park at the Park. There are also good views from inside via the roll-up garage door-style windows. 815 J St., San Diego. (619) 269-2255, southpawsocialclub.com.

20

Tom Ham’s Lighthouse

Another OpenTable diners’ favorite, this 43-year-old Harbor Island landmark commands views of downtown San Diego and Coronado from all of its patio tables, the window tables in its second-floor dining room and the captain’s chairs in its bar. 2150 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego. (619) 291-9110. tomhamslighthouse.com.

21

Top of the Market

The Fish Market’s upstairs dining room in Seaport Village has a 180-degree view of downtown, Coronado and the USS Midway Museum. 750 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego. (619) 232-3474. thefishmarket.com.

22

Twenty/20 Grill and Wine Bar

The heated patio has a hilltop view of the Carlsbad coastline. Manager Chris McNally recommends asking for the “fire feature row” tables, which are lined with a burning-rocks fireplace. It’s easiest to get these tables during lunch hour. Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive. (760) 827-2500, twenty20grill.com.

23

333 Pacific

Table 101 on the north corner of the patio offers up to four diners an excellent view of the nearby Oceanside Pier. 333 N. Pacific St., Oceanside. (760) 433-3333. cohnrestaurants.com.

24

Vela

This cruise ship-themed second-floor restaurant at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront specializes in international seafood and it offers a bayfront view of the Coronado Bridge, North Island and the San Diego Convention Center.

25

Vintana Wine and Dine

Atop the Lexus car dealership in Escondido, the terraced dining room offers a popular sunset view of the surrounding mountains through its 17-foot windows. For parties up to 8, the windowside table 30 is most requested. Smaller parties should ask for tables 5-8 or 25. 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido. (760) 745-7777. cohnrestaurants.com.